Boxing’s 72-Hour Feast: Garcia, Haney and Inoue Light Up an Unmissable Weekend

Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia and Naoya Inoue lead a blockbuster schedule featuring Canelo and Teofimo

This weekend, boxing fans are being treated to something rare—a jam-packed, three-day stretch where the action never stops and the names on the marquee are as big as they come. Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, Naoya Inoue, Canelo Alvarez and Teofimo Lopez—all in action over a whirlwind 72-hour span.

If you’re a fight fan, this isn’t a weekend to make plans. It’s one to cancel them. Clear your schedule, prep the snacks, set the alarms, and be ready for a feast of footwork, fists and fireworks that spans three countries, multiple weight divisions and some of the biggest names in the game.

Garcia and Haney take over New York with unfinished business

It all kicks off on Friday night in the heart of Manhattan, where both Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney are set to take centre stage in separate bouts that could pave the way for a high-stakes rematch later this year. It’s a strange twist of fate that they’ll be fighting on the same card, both knowing that a victory sets up another chapter in their story.

Haney, the undefeated technician with a belt in almost every room he enters, faces the dangerous Rolly Romero. Meanwhile, Garcia, ever the showman, meets seasoned contender Jose Carlos Ramirez in a fight that could be trickier than many expect.

Neither of these are walkovers. Both Romero and Ramirez bring credible power and ring IQ to the table—enough to cause problems if Haney or Garcia take their eyes off the prize. But the real headline, the one everyone’s already picturing, is Haney-Garcia 2.

That first meeting delivered all the drama. A rematch? That could blow the roof off boxing’s already booming 2024.

Canelo heads to Saudi for a tune-up—and sets the table for Crawford

Split image of Ryan Garcia facing off with Rolly Romero and Devin Haney facing off with Jose Carlos Ramirez

On Saturday, the stage shifts to Saudi Arabia, where Canelo Alvarez will defend his undisputed super-middleweight titles against the undefeated Cuban William Scull. Now, let’s be honest—this isn’t the sort of blockbuster Canelo fans are used to.

Scull is slick, yes. He’s awkward, he can move, and he’ll no doubt make things tricky. But he’s not a known name, and compared to what’s on the horizon, this one feels like a breather for the Mexican icon.

And that’s fine—because on the horizon looms a potential megafight with Terence Crawford in September. Two pound-for-pound elites squaring off? That’s what makes Canelo vs. Scull feel like the calm before a very big storm.

We may even see Canelo go for a statement knockout here—he hasn’t stopped anyone since Caleb Plant, and fans are itching for that vintage display of brutality. If Scull shows too much bravado, he might just get it.

Inoue returns to U.S. spotlight with title defence on Sunday

Naoya Inoue lands a punch on the nose of TJ Doheny,Ryan Garcia 

If Friday and Saturday weren’t enough, Sunday wraps things up with a bang—Naoya Inoue, the Japanese phenom who’s been terrifying opponents across weight divisions, returns to the United States to defend his undisputed super-bantamweight crown against Ramon Cardenas.

Inoue, nicknamed “The Monster” for good reason, is one of the most technically brilliant and devastating punchers in modern boxing. His timing, composure, and frightening power make him a nightmare matchup for just about anyone.

Cardenas is no slouch—he’s fast, aggressive, and carries a dangerous left hook—but he can get caught taking risks. And against someone like Inoue, one mistake can mean lights out. If Inoue is dialled in, don’t be surprised if this one ends early. That right hand is a lightning bolt, and he knows how to land it clean.

Where do we go from here? A future full of fantasy fights

What’s remarkable about this weekend isn’t just the volume of elite action—it’s how much it represents a shift in boxing’s direction. A few years ago, these kinds of line-ups would’ve seemed like fantasy matchups. Too many promoters in the way. Too many networks with exclusive contracts. Too much politics.

But now? We’re actually getting them. Big names are fighting each other. The belts are moving. And fans are no longer stuck watching highlight reels from the ‘80s and wishing they were alive when Hagler, Hearns, Duran and Leonard were trading blows.

Speaking of the ‘80s—many still call it boxing’s golden era. The 1970s gave us heavyweight classics, and the ‘90s had its moments, but the ‘80s were about elite-level skill and brutal matchmaking across divisions. Today’s scene is starting to feel like a modern revival of that magic.

And what about the future for Garcia, Haney and Inoue?

Should Garcia and Haney come through unscathed, their rematch is practically inevitable. It’s personal, it’s high-stakes, and it’s exactly what fans want. Garcia, for all the noise around him—his social media stardom, the failed drugs test, the flashy lifestyle—can flat-out fight. His left hook is dynamite, and he’s been boxing since he could walk.

Haney is the perfect foil. Composed, smart, technical. A boxer’s boxer. Their styles contrast perfectly, and they’ve got a history. It sells itself.

As for Inoue—well, the possibilities are endless. He could take on Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez in a pound-for-pound superfight. He could unify Japan in a mouthwatering clash with Junto Nakatani. Or he could jump up in weight again and test himself against Nick Ball at featherweight.

Whatever path he chooses, the boxing world will follow. Inoue isn’t just a champion—he’s a phenomenon.

A weekend to remember

So here we are—three days, five superstars, one unforgettable stretch. You’ve got skill, speed, power, drama, legacy… all jammed into 72 hours. It’s a weekend that asks nothing more than your time, your attention, and maybe a little lost sleep.

Garcia, Haney and Inoue are fighting. Canelo’s getting warmed up for Crawford. Teofimo’s putting his belt on the line.

If you’re not excited for that, maybe boxing’s just not for you.